Filler-shaping mechanism for cigarette-machines.



PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907.

S. I. PRESCOTT. v FILLER SHAPING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14,1906.

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S. I. PRESCOTT. FILLER SHAPING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14,1906.

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No. 863,090. PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907.

v S. I. PRESCOTT. FILLER SHAPING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14,1906.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

AT?" 52' JNVE/VTUH wlffi a M I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SYDNEY I; PRESCOTT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN TOBACCOCOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

FILLER-SHAPING MECHANISM FOR- CIGARETTE-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed May 14, 1206. Serial No. 316.688-

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, SYDNEY I. PRESCOTT, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, county of Kings, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Filler-Shaping Mechanismfor Cigarette-Machines, fully described andrepresented in the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in cigarette machines,and more especially to that class of machines in which short sections orrods of filler are formed from the tobacco, these rods or sections beingstuffed into cases or tubes already made.

Cigarette machines of the class referred to have been used in which thetobacco is introduced into a shaper case through an opening in its topwall, the sides of the shaper case being provided with stationaryforming blocks, having shaping surfaces. The bottom of cases of thistype was made movable, and there was secured -to this movable bottom arectangular shaper block having shaping surfaces formed on its oppositeedges. In this construction, the bottom was reciprocated, causing theshaper block to move from side to side of the shaper case, thus forminga section or rod of filler alternately in connection with one or theother of the pair of forming bl'ocks. These constructions are not onlymore or less complicated, but inasmuch as the forming blocks arestationary and the bottom of the casing reciprocates under them, thereis liability that small particles of tobacco, and if the tobacco be notclean, sand or grit, will be carried by the movable bottom underneaththe stationary blocks. This material not only is liable to wedge betweenthe movable bottom and the stationary blocks, thus interfering with theoperation of the machine, but it also causes excessive wear.

The object of this invention is to produce an im proved shaper case formachines of the character in which short rods orsections of filler areformed. to be stuffed into ready-made cases, which shall be free fromthe objections hereinbefore referred to and which shall possess otheradvantages as compared with prior constructions.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a front elevation, partly insection, of so much of a cigarette machine as is necessary to anunderstanding of the invention, certain parts of the construction beingshown in section. Fig. 2 is a, sectional elevation of part of thetobacco feeding mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1. Figs.

3 and 4 are detail views illustrating the construction of the tobaccofeeding mechanism. Fig. 5 is a plan view, partly in section,illustrating a shaper case constructed in accordance with the inventionand the parts immediately connected therewith, certain of the partsbeing shown in section.

In machinesembodying the invention, there will usually be employed amechanism for disintegrating the tobacco fiber, to convert it into aloose or fluffy mass before it is operated upon by the shaper case to bchereinafter described.

The disintegrating mechanism, when such mechanism isemployed, may be ofany suitable description. In the particular machine illustrated, thetobacco is placed by an operator on a traveling belt 1, the belt runningbetween side bars 2 and being supported on drums 3, 4. As shown, thedrum 4 is mounted in ad justable bearings, indicated at 5, and is drivenby the belt. The drum 3 is mounted on a shaft 6 which is provided with aworm gear 7 in mesh with a worm 8 on a standing shaft 9, this shaftbeing supported in suitable brackets 10 which may be secured to theframe of the machine. The shaft 9 may be provided at its lower end withabevel gear 11 meshing with another bevel gear 12 on a horizontal shaft13, this shaft being provided with a bevel gear which meshes with abevel gear 14 on the drive shaft indicated at 15.

The belt may forward the tobacco into a channel formed by a casting 16supported by a pair of hubs 17 one of which is shown in Fig. 1.Cooperating with this casting is a forwarding roll 18. This roll 18 maybe provided with forwarding pins 19 and may be supported on a shaft 20which finds its bearing in the hub 17 before referred to. This roll, inthe particular machine shown, runs at the same surface speed as the beltand does not operate, therefore, to separate the tobacco.

.A guiding roll 21 may be employed in connection with the belt, thisroll, however, being spaced from the belt, in the particular machineshown, a sufiicient distance so as not to compress the tobacco beingforwarded thereby. This roll 21 may be mounted on a shaft 22 suitablysupported the frame and driven by a gear 23=which is in mesh with a gear24 on the shaft 20. These gears may derive their motion from suitablegearing, not necessary to illustrate and describe, from the shaft 9.

After being forwarded between the roll and channel,

the tobacco is subjected to the action of a picker roll through suitableconnections from the vertical shaft 9. A rotating brush 28 may, ifdesired, be employed to remove from the belt any particles of tobaccothat may adhere thereto. The disintegrated tobacco falls in a showerinto, in the particular machine illustrated, a guide 29 which is hung onpivots 30. This guide may be given a swinging or to and fro movement bymeans of a cam 31 mounted on a shaft 32 suitably supported in the frame,this shaft being located in a yoke or eccentric strap 33. The eccentricstrap may have extending from it guide rods 34, 35 which work throughopenings in a suitable casing 36. The guide rod 34 may be connected by apivoted connection, indicated at 37, to the guide 29. The shaft 32 maybe driven, by suitable gears, not shown, from the upright shaft 9'before referred to, and may also, through gears 38, 39, drive the brushshaft before referred to.

In the particular machine illustrated, the tobacco is delivered by theguides onto a carrier composed of two belts 41, 42 which are arranged torun towards each other, the swinging movement of the guides depositingthe tobacco evenly on the belts. The belt 41 may be mounted on drums 43,44, and the belt 42 on drums 45, 46. The drums 43, 45 may be driven byany suitable gearing. As shown, a cross shaft 47 is provided, this shaftcarrying two bevel gears, one of which is illus' trated at 48 in Fig. 2.These bevel gears mesh pinions,

'one of which is indicated at 49. on the shafts which support the drums42, 43. It will be understood that in the particular machineillustrated, the belts move toward each other so as to combine in asingle stream or sheet the two sheets or streams of tobacco formedthereon. The sheet or stream thus formed by combining the two sheets orstreams on the separate belts may be forwarded to the shaper case to behereinafter described. While this may be formed in any desired manner,in the particular construction shown, two drums 43, 45 are arrangedclose to each other so as to provide a throat 50, in which throat thesingle sheet of tobacco referred to is formed. Pivoted scraping platesindicated at 51 may, if desired, be used to insure the delivery of thetobacco from the belts and these plates may assist in the formation ofthe throat. These plates may be held up against the belts by springs 52in an obvious manner.

The shaper case employed may be varied widely in construction, but itwill embody a stationary bottom.

. In the particular construction illustrated, there is employed, in theformation of the shaper case, an upper plate 53 and a stationary bottomplate 54, this plate resting on a table 55 which rests on the machinebed indicated at 56. The bottom may be provided with cross or T-headsindicated at 57, the lower extensions of these heads embracing the sidesof the table 55 so as to hold the bottom stationary. Between the upperand the lower plates are located spacing blocks 58, these blocks formingthe sides of the case. These blocks 58 mayalso, as in the particularconstruction illustrated,

be utilized as forming blocks by providing them with concave recesses as59, these concaves forming shaping surfaces.

The tobacco may be introduced into the shaper case in any suitablemanner, but in the best constructions, and as illustrated, the upperplate will be provided with an opening 60, V In the best constructions,furthermore, the sides of this opening will be parallel, or in the sameplane with the sides of the throat and the opening will be about thewidth of the throat and will, of course, substantially correspond withit in length. The shaper employed in the shaper case may be varied inits details of construction. As shown, this shaper consists of a block62 having concave recesses 63 on its opposite edges. The block will begiven a to and fro movement in the shaper case, so that the recesses 63co6perate alternately with the recesses 59 in the formation of fillers.In the best constructions and as shown, and for reasons which willhereinafter appear, the opposite sides of the block 6, i. e. the sidesin which the concave recesses are formed, will be arranged to converge,as clearly appears in Fig. 5.

The means by which the shaper block is operated may be-varied widely andwill vary according to the character of the to and fro movement giv enthe block. When, however, the block has converging sides, as in theconstruction illustrated, the to and fro movement should be anoscillating movement. When the shaper block is given an oscillatingmovement, the connections by which this is effected may be of anysuitable character.

In the construction illustrated, there is employed a le-- ver 64 pivotedat 65 to the bed of the machine, this lever being provided with asuitable cam roll, indicated at 66, which Works in connection with agrooved cam 67 mounted on the shaft 15 before referred to. The connection between the lever 64, when this form of oscillating mechanism isemployed, and the block, may be of any suitable character, but will, inthe best constructions, be of the type known as a floating connection.at 68, and the block has a stem 69 which fits in the socket, the fitbeing, however comparatively loose. With this type of connection, themovement of the shaper block is always controlled by the top and bottomwalls of the shaper case, no matter what may be the vertical position ofthe lever. If, therefore, the lever is improperly adjusted, or if itwears, the travel of the block in the shaper case will not be varied. Ifdesired, the stem 69 may be narrowed, as indicated at 70, between theend of the lever and the base of the block. If any foreign matter, such,for instance, as a nail, gets into the shaper case, the breakage whichnecessarily results will occur at the narrower part of the stem and themachine will not be disabled for any greater length of time than isnecessary to insert a new shaper block.

When a shaper block having converging sides is employed in connectionwith an operating lever, the center of oscillation of the lever shouldbe so positioned with respect to the block that the converging side ofthe block which is to operate in connection with one of the formingsurfaces 59 will be parallel-to that forming surface when the block hascompleted its movements in one direction. The position of the partsdescribed is well-shown in Fig. 5.

As has been indicated, the charges of tobacco whichare to be compressed,may be introduced into the shaper case in any desired manner. When,however, the tobacco is, as in the particular machine illustrated, fedforward to the shaper case in a continuous stream, the shaper block maywell be utilized to separate from this stream the successive charges oftobacco. The cutting off of these successive charges of to- The lever isprovided with a socket, indicated bacco should be effected bya shearingcut. The converging side construction of the shaper block enables it tobe utilized for this purpose, by forming the upper edges or corners ofthe shaper block sharp so that they make cutting edges that willcooperate with the lower edges of the opening 60, and they will, owingto the shape of the edges, give the stream of tobacco a shearing cut.This construction, furthermore, enables the sides of the opening 60 tobe arranged either 'in the saine planes with the sides of the tobaccoforwarding throat, or parallel with those planes, which is an advantagefor the reason that it enables the size of the opening to be reduced topractically the size of the advancing tobacco stream or sheet. I

As successive charges of tobacco are out off and formed into fillers inthe shaper case, they will be ejected from the case and into the formedtubes or casings. Any suitable ejecting mechanism may be used for thispurpose. In the particular construction illustrated, the shaper case isprovided with a pair of spouts 71, each of these spouts being in linewith the chamber formed by the opposed shaping recesses in the shaperblock and the shaping surfaces of the casing. The formed sections offiller are pushed out through these spouts by ejecting plungers 72,these plungers working through suitable guides 73 in the bed and beingconnected by arms 74 to slides 75 working in suitable ways in the bed.These slides are operated by eccentrics on the shaft 15, the eccentricstraps being indicated at 76. It may be here remarked that theconverging side construction of the shaper block is also advantageous inthe ejecting operation. The cam groove in the cam 67 is so formed as torelease the compression on the filler just as it is ejected. As theshaper block moves away from the stationary forming surface, the openingis converted from a substantially cylindrical one into a somewhatfiaring shape, so as to permit the filler to be easily pushed out.

The formed cases or tubes into which the fillers are inserted may besupplied to the machine in any suitable manner. In the constructionillustrated, there is provided a magazine, indicated at 77, beneathwhich operate a pair of transferring slides 78. These slides areconnected by arms 79 with the slides 75. The bottom of the magazine maybe formed by gates 80 which are normally held closed by means of springs'81 surrounding rods which enter recesses in the gates. The bottoms ofthe gates may be provided with rolls 82 illustrated in dotted lines inFig. 5, these rolls being struck at proper times by cams 83 on thetransporting slides so as to allow a tube to be delivered when the slideis beneath the magazine. The tubes are carried forward by the slides anddeposited on the spouts 71. They may be held on the spouts by pivotedarms 84, these arms being operated at suitable times by cams 85, 86 onthe slides 75.

This application discloses certain novel constructions relating moreespecially to the preparation and feeding of the tobacco and theoperation of the filler construction hereinbefore described andillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

What is claimed is 1. In a cigarette machine, the combination with ashaper case having stationary top and bottom walls, one of said wallsbeing provided with a feed opening, of means for feeding tobacco to saidopening, a pair of shaping surfaces attire sides of the case, a shaperblock the opposite sides of which are provided with shaping surfaces,and means for oscillating the block in the case.

2. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a shaper case havingstationary top and bottom walls one of said walls being provided with afeed opening, of means for feeding tobacco in a sheet or stream to saidopening, a pair of shaping surfaces at the sides of the case, a shaperblock the opposite sides of which are provided with shaping surfaces,said block having sharp edges which coiiperate with the edges of thefeed opening to cut off charges of tobacco from the sheet or stream, andmeans for oscillating the block in the case.

3. In a cigarette machine; the combination with a throat through whichtobacco is fed in a sheet or stream, of :1 shaper case having stationarytop and bottom Walls one of which is provided with a feed opening theside edges of said opening being parallel to the sides of the throat andthe opening registering with the throat, a shaper block the oppositesides of which are provided with shaping surfaces, said block havingsharp edges which cooperate with the edges of the feed opening to cut 0Echarges of tobacco from the sheet or stream, and means for giving theblock a to and fro movement in the case.

4. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a shaper case havingstationary top and bottom walls, one of said walls being provided with afeed opening, of means for introducing tobacco into the case throughsaid opening, a pair of shaping surfaces at the sides of the case, ashaper block the opposite sides of which are provided with shapingsurfaces, operating means for the block, and a floating connectionbetween the operating means and the block whereby the movement of theblock is controlled by the walls of the case.

5. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a shaper case havingstationary top and bottom walls, one of said walls being provided withai'eed opening, of means for introducing tobacco into the case throughsaid opening, a pair of shaping surfaces at the sides of the case, ashaper block the opposite sides of which are provided with shapjngsurfaces, a lever for operating the block, and a floating connectionbetween the lever and the block, whereby the movement of the block iscontrolled by the walls of the case.

6. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a shaper case havingstationary top and bottom walls, one of said walls being provided with afeed opening, of means for introducing tobacco into the case throughsaid opening, a pair of shaping surfaces at opposite sides of the case,a shaper block the opposite sides of which are converging and areprovided with shaping recesses, and a lever for oscillating the block.

7. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a shaper case havingstationary top and bottom walls, one of said walls being provided with afeed opening, of means for introducing tobacco 'into the case throughsaid opening, a

pair of shaping surfaces at opposite sides of the case, a shaper blockthe opposite sides of which are converging and are provided with shapingrecesses, a lever for oscillating the block, and a floating connectionbetween the block and the lever whereby the movement of the block iscontrolled.

8. Ina cigarette machine, the combination with a shaper case havingstationary top and bottom walls, one of said walls having a feedopening, means for feeding tobacco in a sheet or stream through saidopening, a pair of shaping surfaces located at the sides of the case, ashaper block having converging sides one of said sides being providedwith a shaping surface and having a sharp cutting edge which coiiperateswith an edge of the opening to cut off charges of tobacco from the sheetor stream, and means for oscillating the block in the case.

9. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a shaper oscillating theblock in the case, and a floating connection 10 case having stationarytop and bottom walls, one of said between the block and the leverwhereby the movement ofwalis having a feed opening, means for feedingtobacco in the block is controlled.

.a sheet or stream through said opening, a pair of shaping In testimonywhereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in 5 surfaces located at the sidesof the case, a shaper block the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

having converging sides one of said sides being provided SYDNEY I.PRESCOTT.

with a shaping surface and having a sharp cutting edge I Witnesses:

which cooperates with an edge of the opening to cut oif A. WHITE,

charges of tobacco from the sheet or stream, means for PHILIP'N. TILnnN.

